Interaction between sulfated 3-O-octadecyl-α-(1→6)-d-glucan and liposomes analyzed by surface plasmon resonance

•The long alkyl groups in sulfated polysaccharides enhanced the anti-HIV activity.•Interaction with liposomes was investigated by SPR and DLS measurements.•The long hydrophobic octadecyl group penetrated into the liposome.•The hydrophilic sulfated polysaccharide chain covers the surface of the liposome.•As the results, the anti-HIV activity of sulfated alkyl polysaccharides increased. To elucidate the role of long alkyl group in sulfated poly- and oligosaccharides on anti-HIV activity, the interaction between sulfated 3-O-octadecyl-(1→6)-α-d-glucopyranan with potent anti-HIV activity and liposomes with diameters of 58 ± 20 nm and 107 ± 28 nm as models of HIV were investigated. SPR measurements of sulfated 3-O-octadecyl-(1→6)-α-d-glucopyranans bearing 2.8 mol% of the octadecyl group and the liposome (diameter = 58 ± 20.0 nm and ζ=0 mV) resulted in an apparent association- ka = 6 × 105 1/M, a dissociation-rate kd = 4 × 10−4 1/s, and a dissociation constants KD = 8 × 10-10 M. The particle size of the sulfated 3-O-octadecyl-(1→6)-α-d-glucopyranan (67 ± 14 nm) measured by DLS increased to 104 ± 25 nm, whereas the ζ potential (−29 mV) was unchanged (−33 mV). For dextran sulfate without an alkyl group, no interaction was observed. These results suggest that the long octadecyl group penetrated into the liposome and sulfated glucopyranan was covered on the liposome to increase the anti-HIV activity. The 107 nm liposome exhibited similar results.